Leave a Comment · Posted on September 26, 2023
Off the Shelf Festival of Words 2023
From 13th October it’s… the Off the Shelf Festival of Words and we’re very excited to have Hive-related happenings at the festival again this year!
HIVE RELATED EVENTS
On Saturday 14th October, Sheffield Poet Laurate and Hive alumnus Danae Wellington is reading with award-winning author, poet and broadcaster Selena Godden. Selena will be reading from Pessimism For Lightweights: A collection of 30 pieces of courage and resistance inspired by protests and rallies. Catch these incredible poets at Sheffield University Darma Studio at 7pm.
On Sunday 15th October there’s a showing of the commissioned Poetry film: Who We Were; Who We Became, created by Sheffield Poet Laurate and Hive alumnus Danae Wellington in collaboration with Darshan Gajjar. The film is a poetic love song threading together the memories, faith and culture of the Windrush generation. It captures their final moments before embarking on a journey in pursuit of a new life. Catch the film at 4pm at SADACCA, Sheffield (FREE, no need to book). The film will also be projected on the back of the Town Hall on Saturday 28th October at 7.30pm
On Friday 27th October, there’s a launch reading of Spit Out the Myth, a joint mini poetry collection from Hive alumnus poets Silé Sibanda, Warda Yassin and current Sheffield Poet Laureate Danae Wellington. The poems in this collection bring to life stories of migration and change, explored through family roots, mythical tales and life in the north of England. Come along to this wonderful launch reading at Millenium Gallery at 6pm. Désirée Reynolds will introduce the event and Suzannah Evans will talk about the publishing process. Spit Out the Myth is a collaborative project between Off the Shelf & The Poetry Business.
On Saturday 28th October you can drop in to the Millennium Gallery to catch a little slice of poetic life through the film installation – Ear to the Streets: 24hrs in the life of South Yorkshire – an audio-visual love letter to the urban and rural life of South Yorkshire, featuring the words and voices of over 40 young writers from across the region’s cities, towns and villages, working with poet Vicky Morris through Hive Young Writers Network. The film has been created in collaboration with digital content producer and musician Kitty Turner. This site-specific installation is designed to be happened upon in a transitory way. You can drop in any time from 11-1pm at the Millennium Gallery (FREE)
And on Friday 17th November join us for a Young Writers’ Open Mic & anthology launch in partnership with the Department of Media & Culture at Sheffield Hallam University. All welcome, but the stage belongs to young people (aged 14-30) from across South Yorkshire & beyond. If you write poems, tell stories, compose lyrics, spit bars, or have anything to say out loud to a supportive audience, this is an evening to celebrate your words in a warm, inclusive atmosphere. Find out more here.
And these are just a few of the happenings at the festival this year. Check out the full programme at: offtheshelf.org.uk
Leave a Comment · Posted on September 25, 2023
Spit Out the Myth Launch
Many congratulations to Hive poets Silé Sibanda, Warda Yassin and Danae Wellington (current Sheffield Poet Laureate), who will be launching their join poetry pamphlet: Spit Out the Myth at Off the Shelf Festival of Words 2023. The poems in this collection bring to life stories of migration and change, explored through family roots, mythical tales and life in the north of England.
After Désirée Reynolds curated Black Women Write Now for Off the Shelf in 2021 with a showcase of readings by the three poets, many enquired about obtaining their work in print. The result is this Off the Shelf-commissioned anthology, with an introduction by Désirée.
Join Silé, Warda, and Danae on Friday 27th October at Millenium Gallery at 6pm for a launch reading from the collection. Désirée Reynolds will introduce the event and Suzannah Evans will talk about the publishing process.
An Off the Shelf Festival of Words commission in partnership with The Poetry Business
Warda Yassin is a British Somali poet and English teacher. She was Sheffield Poet Laureate 2020-2022 and was awarded the Women Poets’ Prize 2020/21. Warda often writes about her experiences as a British Somali and about her heritage and community and in 2018, her debut pamphlet Tea with Cardamom was a winner of the New Poets Prize (The Poetry Business). Warda has been a part of the South Yorkshire writers network (now Hive) for many years and knows firsthand from her own experience, how writing networks can support young writers to reach their potential.
Danae Wellington is a Jamaican British writer and Sheffield Poet Laureate 2023-2024. She advocates for healing through the creative arts, specifically through the fusion of poetry, storytelling, music and theatre. She’s been published in several anthologies and has performed widely at places like the Ted Hughes Poetry Festival and Sheaf Poetry Festival. Danae is passionate about leading projects aimed at supporting young people from African Diaspora backgrounds to tell their stories and use their voices.
Sile Sibanda is a British Zimbabwean poet, spoken word performer, and BBC radio presenter. As well as being an active part of the Hive community, she has hosted open mics and events for Hive over the last few years and is loved by everyone for her warmth and encouragement of young voices. Sile hails from Rotherham and in 2019 she won the BBC Radio Sheffield ‘This is Me’ presenting competition and subsequently became the host of The Vibe on BBC Radio Sheffield.
Leave a Comment · Posted on September 25, 2023
Ear to the Streets: 24hrs in the life of South Yorkshire
Ear to the Streets: 24hrs in the life of South Yorkshire – is an audio-visual love letter to the urban and rural life of South Yorkshire, featuring the words and voices of over 40 young writers from across the region’s cities, towns and villages, working with poet Vicky Morris through Hive Young Writers Network. The film has been created in collaboration with digital content producer and musician Kitty Turner.
This site-specific installation is designed to be happened upon in a transitory way with the movement of people through their day. You can drop in to catch a little slice of South Yorkshire life on Saturday 28th October at the Millennium Gallery (FREE)
A single vibrant red leaf is ripped from its home and runs through the silent streets. An overflowing bin looks like a volcanic eruption of household rubbish. A soot black cat with shining yellow eyes sits on top of another lid, as if claiming the throne of a grey and abandoned kingdom. (2.45pm: Royston, Barnsley)
Ear to the Streets was inspired by Ian McMillian’s ‘Early Stroll’ series.
In partnership with Off the Shelf Festival of Words
Writing workshops & editing:
Vicky Morris
Audio-visual elements:
Kitty Turner
With thanks to support from:
Outwood Carlton Barnsley – Matthew Rhodie
High Storrs Sheffield – Joe Caldwell
UTC Doncaster – Ross Cuncliffe & Liam Barlow
Wales High School Rotherham – English team
Penistone Grammar Barnsley – Sarah Mann
The Civic Barnsley – Jason White
Young writers & readers:
Maia Brown
Emmie Alderson
Lauren Hollingsworth Smith
Taina Maneus
Sarafina Maneus
Hannah Zaki
Ayah Aslam
Shannon Johnson
Lacey Williamson
Samuel Davey
Peter Bridgeland
Eliza Livingstone
Sylvia Faggs
Hettie Collins
Lucy Gray
Lola Kenny
Oliver Brearley
Millie Appleyard
Oliver Brearley
Amelia Martin,
Joseph Leathead
Chloe Pearson
Ben Hudson
Ava Collier
Harriet Stockdale
Harry Lodge
Izzy Whiston
Harry Bates
Phoenix Sneap
Phoebe Marklew
Hannah Rawson
Isabelle Naylor
Ameesha Wood
Emily Linton
Lily Smith
Kenzie McMaster
Evie Burgess
Luke Worth
Jess Connelly
Olivia
Abby
Tia
Leave a Comment · Posted on September 21, 2023
Congratulations Charlotte Murray: Creative Future Award 2023
Huge congratulations to Hive Poet Charlotte Murray who has won the Silver Poetry Award for her pamphlet “Cross Stitch House”, as part of the Creative Future Writers’ Award 2023.
The award, judged this year by Wayne Holloway-Smith and Nina Mingya Powles, received over 1,300 entries from underrepresented writers across the country. Charlotte will receive a £25 cash prize, a manuscript assessment, a copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook or writing guide, and a year’s membership to The Poetry Society. All award winners are published in the X (2023) anthology alongside the judges and Creative Future writers in residence.
I like bands’ initial albums, and I like artists at the start of their careers. I like seeing footballers stepping into the first team for the first time, and I like watching debut directors at the movies. It’s invigorating to me to see raw talent finding its way, in this way — that initial burst of ambition, and excitement—the kernel of a voice emerging, the level of risk practitioners are free to take at this stage. No wonder the process of judging CFWA was such a source of joy—the originality and imagination, the vocabulary of these newcomers, crikey! — Wayne Holloway-Smith, Award judge
Judging the Creative Future Writers’ Award was an invigorating and challenging process. The shortlist of many innovative writers offered a glimpse of some of the most exciting writing being produced in the UK today. In the poetry and fiction categories, writers boldly pushed boundaries of genre and form. In creative nonfiction, a category new to the prize this year, there was an incredible range of stories and voices covering subjects I’d not encountered before. I was drawn all the way in and longed to keep reading. It’s been a joy and an honour to be involved in this prize that is helping to reshape our literary landscape. — Nina Mingya Powles, Award judge
Charlotte Murray hails from West Yorkshire. She is a member of Hive Poetry Collective and works as a University Archivist. She won second place in the E.H.P. Barnard Poetry Prize 2023, in Bangor Literary Journal’s Forty Words Competition 2021 and in the East Riding Festival of Words Poetry Competition 2021. Her poems have appeared in appear in Lucent Dreaming, Mancunian Ways (Fly on the Wall Press) and Dear Life (Hive). Her pamphlet was longlisted for the Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award 2023.
For more about the Creative Future Awards, visit: www.creativefuture.org.uk
Leave a Comment · Posted on September 16, 2023
Young Writers’ Open Mic & anthology launch
Young Writers’ Open Mic & anthology launch
When: Friday 17th Nov | 7.15pm – 10pm 2023
Where: Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2LQ
£2 minimum donation on the door
All welcome, but the stage belongs to young people (14-30) from across South Yorkshire & beyond.
If you write poems, tell stories, compose lyrics, spit bars, or have anything to say out loud to a supportive audience, this is an evening to celebrate your words in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
We’ll also be launching our 2023 young writers’ anthology featuring fiction and poetry from young and emerging writers from across the north.
Open and supportive of all, both new & experienced performers. Reserve a definite slot here or put your name down on the night (slots limited).
In partnership with the Department of Media & Culture at Sheffield Hallam University & Off the Shelf Festival of Words 
Leave a Comment · Posted on July 26, 2023
Freya Bantiff & Luke Worthy winners of the New Poets Prize 2023
A huge congratulations to Hive young poets Freya Baniff and Luke Worthy. Freya is a winner of the international New Poets Prize 2023 for her pamphlet All Appears Ordinary, and Luke Worthy is one of two runners-up for the prize with his pamphlet On What Could Sting debut pamphlet. Coincidently, both poets have also recently been commissioned to write fiction pieces for an anthology for Leeds 2023.
Being awarded a New Poets Prize offers Freya the wonderful prize of pamphlet publication with The Poetry Business alongside fellow winner Caleb Leow. Luke receives an Arvon residential course of his choice along with fellow runner-up Imogen Wade. All four placed will have work published in The North, a year subscription to The North and a launch event reading. Judge Kim Moore had this to say about Freya and Luke’s winning pamphlets:
“Nothing is truly ordinary in this extraordinary pamphlet, where owls are ‘light as an eyelash blown for luck’ and where illness and pain can be rinsed and washed away like stains. These poems keep the faith that language can illuminate anything – from everyday acts of love like the removal of nits from a child’s head to the extinction of a species. (All Appears Ordinary)
From a jellyfish like a ‘tumour of salt and sand’ to a meditation on Putin’s penis and toxic masculinity – these poems are full of surprising images and wide-ranging in their interrogations – of class, sexuality, homophobia and masculinity. (On What Could Sting)
Freya Bantiff (previously Carter) is a poet and fiction writer from Sheffield. In 2022 she placed third in the National Poetry Competition and was highly commended in the Ginkgo Prize for Ecopoetry 2022. She was also joint winner of the Bridport Poetry Prize 2022 (18-25s) while being highly commended in their overall competition. Freya was a winner of the Canterbury Poet of the Year Competition 2021 and her poems and stories have been placed in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award (2021), Mslexia Flash Fiction Competition (2020), Ilkley Literature Festival’s Poetry Competition (2010 – 2015) and Foyle Young Poet of the Year (2015), along with many others. Freya is a member of Hive Poetry and is currently studying an MA at UEA. She will take on the role of Apprentice Poet in Residence at Ilkley Literature Festival in October 2023.
Luke Worthy is a queer poet and fiction writer from Sheffield. His work has been published, or is forthcoming, in journals and anthologies including Poetry Wales, fourteen poems, Broken Sleep’s Masculinity: An Anthology of Modern Voices (2024), Youth Word Up (2017/2018), Surfing the Twilight (2019) and Dear Life (2022). In 2023 he was highly commended in the E.H.P Barnard Poetry Prize and was Young Poet-in-Residence at Sheaf Poetry Festival. Luke was commissioned to write a piece of children’s literature for Leeds 2023 and is a member of Hive Poetry Collective.
We want to say a massive thank you to The Poetry Business for supporting early-career writers so young, and offering this wonderful opportunity to move on to publication. Freya and Luke join recent Hive New Poet Prize winners: Beth Davies (2022) Safia Khan (2021) Georgie Woodhead, Lauren Hollingsworth Smith (2020) and Warda Yassin (2018). This year’s judge was Kim Moore.
Leave a Comment · Posted on July 5, 2023
Hexham Poetry Competition
Congratulations to Charlie Jolley of Sheffield Young Writers who is the 1st Prize Winner in the 14-18 age category for the Hexham Poetry Competition 2023 with her poem Sunday Layla. Charlie received £100 as her prize. All winners are listed here.
Charlie Jolley is a young poet and fiction writer. She is a member of Sheffield Young Writers and the winner of the Hexham Young People’s Poetry Competition 2023. Charlie came 2nd prize in Young Poet’s Network Protest Poetry Competition 2022 and was highly commended in the Wales Young Poet Award 2020. She has been published by The Poetry Society (2022), Zoetic Press (2022), Mutabilis Press (2023), and in Hive anthologies Dear Life and Surfing the Twilight.
Leave a Comment · Posted on July 4, 2023
Dominic is awarded a Churchill Fellowship
We are absolutely buzzing with pride that Dominic Heslop (Slambarz/The1Devotion) has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship 2023. From 965 applications, 230 individuals were interviewed and 141 were awarded fellowships, so this is an incredible achievement.
The Churchill Fellowship is the UK’s national memorial to Sir Winston Churchill. It promotes the global exchange of ideas and understanding between people through the work of the fellows appointed each year to undertake a research project in their field of interest and skills. These include Arts, Community, Citizenship, Environmental, Education, Governance, Public Provision, and Science and technology.
With the intention of building his work through the Slambarz Project, he founded through Hive in 2017, Dominic has been awarded a Churchill Fellow to visit the USA and Europe to research engagement between arts and communities, and how organisations implement restorative practices to shape positive life paths for vulnerable and underrepresented young people.
Dominic says of his support from Hive:
“Since its inception, Hive has nurtured my creativity and evolved me into a highly capable practitioner in the arts. Through Hive, I’ve been able to explore many brilliant opportunities and built up my confidence and skills – everything from hosting poetry events and being a steering board member, to volunteering at festivals. But it’s the belief Vicky Morris at Hive has had in me that has really been a catalyst in where I am now and what I’m ready to do next. Her support and mentorship, navigating the arts and building my community, have been truly priceless. Thank you and thanks to Hive.”
Dominic sayings of his Fellowship:
“The purpose of my fellowship is to research and explore how other organisations creatively engage with communities to overcome cultural barriers, isolation, trauma, violence and crime. My personal experiences have shaped my vision to build safe, inclusive environments for young people to thrive in. Scarcity of creative provisions often leads to misguided youth, which sadly decays communities. My Fellowship will help us to innovate new ways of tackling this universal issue.”
Leave a Comment · Posted on June 25, 2023
Charles Causley Trust Young People’s Poetry Competition 2023
Congratulations to Charlie Jolley of Sheffield Young Writers who is the 2nd prize winner of the aged 12 to 15 age category of the Charles Causley Trust Young People’s Poetry Competition 2023 with her poem Sunday Roast. Charlie received poetry books and a voucher. All winners are listed here.
Charlie Jolley is a young poet and fiction writer. She is a member of Sheffield Young Writers and the winner of the Hexham Young People’s Poetry Competition 2023. Charlie came 2nd prize in Young Poet’s Network Protest Poetry Competition 2022 and was highly commended in the Wales Young Poet Award 2020. She has been published by The Poetry Society (2022), Zoetic Press (2022), Mutabilis Press (2023), and in Hive anthologies Dear Life and Surfing the Twilight.
Leave a Comment · Posted on June 23, 2023
E.H.P Barnard Poetry Prize
Many congratulations to Hive Poets Charlotte Murray (2nd Prize for her poem Mosquito) and Luke Worthy (highly commended for his poem The Changing Room) in the E.H.P Barnard Poetry Prize 2023. The judge of this year’s competition was Sarah Smith and the theme was ‘change’. Both poets are members of Hive’s Poetry Collective and recently performed at Sheaf Poetry Festival, which Luke was also Poet in Residence for.